Analysis of Key Races

Oregon voters saw the light and rejected Measure 23 by an overwhelming vote of 79% to 21% (with 76% of the vote in). The measure would have funneled all the public and private money spent on health care in the state into a “single-payer” account run by government. A study by LECG consulting, released just before the election showed that every Oregon resident would have paid an additional $4,000 to $5,900 in taxes if the new system were implemented.

Prescription Drugs

The prescription drug benefit for Medicare which the House passed in 2002 gave Republicans an edge on an issue that traditionally favors Democrats.

House Incumbents John Shimkus (R-IL) and Nancy Johnson (R-CT) actively campaigned on their support of the House Medicare prescription drug bill.

Shimkus defeated David Phelps 55-45

Johnson defeated Jim Malony 54-43

Senate challengers John Thune (R-SD), John Sununu (R-NH), and Jim Talent (R-MO) also used their support of the House Medicare bill to blunt attacks from their opponents on the issue.

Thune leads Tim Johnson 50-49

Sununu defeated Jeanne Shaheen 51-47

Talent defeated Jean Carnahan 50-49

Open seat Senate candidates Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) and John Cornyn (R-TX) and House candidates Jo Bonner (R-AL), and Bob Beauprez (R-CO) also made their support of a responsible drug benefit along the lines of the House bill an important part of their campaigns.

Dole defeated Erskine Bowles 54-45

Cornyn defeated Ron Kirk 55-43

Bonner defeated Judy McCain Belk 60-38

Beauprez leads Mike Feeley 48-46

The Medicare prescription drug issue was expected to be pivotal in Maine, where Sen. Susan Collins, R, successfully defended her seat against Chellie Pingree, D, who devised a controversial price-control system for prescription drugs in Maine. Democrats thought this issue and this candidate were their best chance to make the race competitive. The effort failed.

Alternatively, many Democrats had messages on prescription drugs that didn’t seem to resonate with voters.

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Analysis of Key Races

Oregon voters saw the light and rejected Measure 23 by an overwhelming vote of 79% to 21% (with 76% of the vote in). The measure would have funneled all the public and private money spent on health care in the state into a “single-payer” account run by government. A study by LECG consulting, released just before the election showed that every Oregon resident would have paid an additional $4,000 to $5,900 in taxes if the new system were implemented.

Prescription Drugs

The prescription drug benefit for Medicare which the House passed in 2002 gave Republicans an edge on an issue that traditionally favors Democrats.

House Incumbents John Shimkus (R-IL) and Nancy Johnson (R-CT) actively campaigned on their support of the House Medicare prescription drug bill.

Shimkus defeated David Phelps 55-45

Johnson defeated Jim Malony 54-43

Senate challengers John Thune (R-SD), John Sununu (R-NH), and Jim Talent (R-MO) also used their support of the House Medicare bill to blunt attacks from their opponents on the issue.

Thune leads Tim Johnson 50-49

Sununu defeated Jeanne Shaheen 51-47

Talent defeated Jean Carnahan 50-49

Open seat Senate candidates Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) and John Cornyn (R-TX) and House candidates Jo Bonner (R-AL), and Bob Beauprez (R-CO) also made their support of a responsible drug benefit along the lines of the House bill an important part of their campaigns.

Dole defeated Erskine Bowles 54-45

Cornyn defeated Ron Kirk 55-43

Bonner defeated Judy McCain Belk 60-38

Beauprez leads Mike Feeley 48-46

The Medicare prescription drug issue was expected to be pivotal in Maine, where Sen. Susan Collins, R, successfully defended her seat against Chellie Pingree, D, who devised a controversial price-control system for prescription drugs in Maine. Democrats thought this issue and this candidate were their best chance to make the race competitive. The effort failed.

Alternatively, many Democrats had messages on prescription drugs that didn’t seem to resonate with voters.